Harald III of Denmark

Harald III "the Whetstone" of Denmark (1040-17 April 1080) was King of Denmark from 1074 to 1080, succeeding Sweyn II of Denmark and preceding Cnut IV of Denmark.

Biography
Harald was born in 1040, the son of King Sweyn II of Denmark. Harald took part in his father's 1069 raid on England, and he was elected King of Denmark by the royal assembly in 1074. He shared power with his many brothers to avoid fighting with them, and he did little to oppose the same nobles that had elected him into power. Harald instituted public use of the royal forests and created new mints, deploring ancient violent resolutions to court cases and replacing trial by combat and trial by ordeal with swearing of oaths on behalf of the parties. He died in 1080 at the age of 40.